( 45 ) III. Revision of the Australian and Tasmanian Malaco-dermidae. By Arthur M, Lea, F.E.S., Government Entomologist, Tasmania. [Read October 7th, 1908.] Plates 1 1— VI. The Australian and Tasmanian Malacodcrmidae have been comparatively neglected ; in Masters' Catalogue only 114 species* were recorded ; since the Catalogue 147t have been recorded as new, 3 were overlooked, and I am now able to add 137 more. Excluding known synonyms and varieties the total now recorded is 363 species. The reasons for the neglect are not far to seek ; the species, although in life often of graceful form and of beautiful colours, after death frequently become badly distorted (especially when pinned) and discoloured ; nor can they afterwards be properly set out. Most of the species are small, and the colours of many are exactly similar to those of other species, from which, however, they are distinguished by strongly defined structural characters. J In many species of Hdcogaster the males have often almost quite identical colours, but are easily distinguished by the sculpture of the head. In Hypa.ttalus many similarly coloured species are to be distinguished by the front femora of the male, or the hind tibiae of the female. In the Lycides I have given two small special tables of species, which are separated by profound differences of sculpture, and yet have a strong outward resemblance. Owing also to the contraction which almost invariably takes place, the shape of specimens of the same species often appears very different. | A few of the species are very variable, but perhaps these * Excluding tlie then known synonyms, also a species wrongly referred to the family, another entered twice, and another wrongly recorded as Australian. t Some of these, however, are here noted as synonyms or varieties. X These, however, are often confined to the males. § This is especially the case with the incision of the penultimate segment of the abdomen of the males. TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1909. — PART I. (MAY)
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